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Coleman to lead Vets Day celebration

Coleman to lead Vets Day celebration

By Rhett Bollinger
/
MLB.com |

Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman will be the keynote speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego on Wednesday.

Coleman, a former Marine lieutenant colonel who flew in World War II and the Korean War, will be on hand at 3 p.m. PT when a World War II F4-U Corsair will be craned onto the flight deck as part of the ceremony.

Coleman flew that same model in his Marine Corps squadron during the Korean War while the model of aircraft he flew during World War II -- the SBD Dauntless dive bomber -- is already on display on the hangar deck of the Midway.

The 85-year-old broadcaster, who just finished his 37th season as the voice of the Padres, is expected to share with the audience his recollections of flying the Corsair and other anecdotes from his Marine Corps and baseball life.

It's all part of the Veterans Day celebration at the USS Midway Museum with festivities beginning at 10 a.m. PT.

Some highlights of the celebration will be a skydiving demonstration with the skydivers landing on the deck of the Midway, the Park View Little League champions leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance before the ceremony and a blood drive hosted by the San Diego Blood Bank.

General admission is $17 for adults, $13 for seniors and $9 for students and youth over the age of 5 with $1 of every paid admission donated to the Veterans Village of San Diego. Veterans and children under 5 years old will be admitted free of charge.

Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.